GPS lap timers for motorcycle track days

At lunchtime, the same question always comes up in the paddock: ‘What times are you doing?’ And so does the answer: ‘Er… 1'50, I think, maybe 1'49 towards the end.’ Your mate with a stopwatch by the barrier has his limits. A GPS lap timer does not doze off in a folding chair: it records every lap, every split and the full trace of your day.

You still need to choose the right one. Between a €10 app and a €750 unit, the difference is not just the price: screen or no screen, phone required or not, access to the bike's data, the ability to export your files. This comparison covers the devices you see most often on track days, with prices and specifications checked on 14 October 2026 on the brands' websites, the app stores or, failing that, at retailers (details below the table). None is universally ‘the best’: there is the right device for your budget and what you want to do with it.

At a glance

* List prices checked on 14/10/2026, excluding promotions. RaceBox: official shop (a promotion that day listed them at €129, €219 and €289). AiM: official shop, excluding VAT. 3DMS Evo: Gentlemen Riders, the retailer recommended by the manufacturer. Starlane does not publish prices: average VAT-inclusive prices found at European retailers. Apps: French App Store.

10 Hz or 25 Hz: what difference does it really make?

Frequency is the number of positions recorded per second. Do the maths at 200 km/h, or 55.6 m per second: at 10 Hz, one point every 5.6 m; at 25 Hz, one point every 2.2 m.

For lap times, the difference matters little: the device locates the finish-line crossing between two points, and 10 Hz is enough to compare your laps. The main benefit of 25 Hz comes when you want a closer look at a braking phase or the slowest point in a corner: more points, a more detailed speed trace.

The other figure to look at is the number of satellite constellations received (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou): the more satellites the receiver can see, the better it holds its position. RaceBox units and the AiM Solo 2 claim all four; the Starlane Stealth-5 claims three (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo).

1. A phone app: €0 to €30

This is the entry point: you already have GPS in your pocket.

• RaceChrono Pro costs €22.99 on both the App Store and Google Play. On Android, a free version already provides lap times, sectors and an optimal lap; predictive lap timing, video and external GPS receivers (including RaceBox units) require in-app purchases.
• Harry's LapTimer comes in three editions on the App Store: Rookie at €9.99, Petrolhead at €22.99 and Grand Prix at €29.99. The developer advertises predictive lap timing, video with data overlays, and external GPS and OBD sensors; the included features depend on the edition, so compare them before buying.
• TrackAddict is free, but on iPhone the free version stores only three recordings and does not provide live telemetry. The Pro version, at €9.99, removes these limits. It also accepts an external GPS receiver and an OBD reader.

RaceChrono also reads engine data through a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi OBD reader, but its own FAQ warns that a motorcycle always needs a cable suited to its diagnostic socket: compatibility with your model is not guaranteed, so check before buying the reader.

Who is it for? A first season, a tight budget, or finding out whether lap timing interests you before investing. The catch: your phone becomes the measuring device, and you must mount it securely or keep it on you.

2. A GPS unit linked to your phone: €139 to €319

RaceBox units are small, screenless devices running at 25 Hz: display and analysis happen in the RaceBox app (iOS and Android). The three models do not work in the same way, and that is the key point to understand before buying:

• RaceBox Mini (€249): the brand spells it out — this is not a standalone device. It needs a permanent connection to the phone to record. Battery life up to 20 h.
• RaceBox Mini S (€319): the same unit, but it records without a permanent phone connection. Battery life up to 20 h.
• RaceBox Micro (€139): with no battery for recording, it runs from a 3.5 to 16 V supply, which needs wiring into the bike. It records on its own at the press of a button, with more than 2 h of memory at 25 Hz (5 h at 10 Hz).

Sessions export as CSV, VBO or GPX from your account on the RaceBox website. The Mini and Mini S also work with other apps, such as RaceChrono. Some additional services require a subscription: check what you need before subscribing.

Who is it for? The rider who wants 25 Hz without paying for a lap timer with a screen, and is happy to read their times back in the pits rather than while riding.

3. A lap timer with a screen: €370 to €750

Here, you can see your times as you ride: laps, splits and sometimes a predictive time, which tells you live whether the current lap is faster than your reference.

3DMS Evo — €398 incl. VAT. A waterproof unit with a screen, three lap-time display modes and an improvement LED, 10 Hz GPS and power from the bike's battery. An optional lean-angle sensor and suspension travel sensors (front and rear) can be connected. The analysis software, 3DMS Tools Suite, is free, but only available for Windows and macOS: the manufacturer's FAQ specifies that you cannot download data to a smartphone. The manufacturer no longer sells direct and refers buyers to Gentlemen Riders.

AiM Solo 2 — €430 excl. VAT. GPS at 25 Hz across four constellations, a 100 Hz inertial measurement unit, lap times, splits and predictive lap timing. Race Studio 3 software is free to download. Take care when comparing: the AiM shop price is shown excluding VAT.

AiM Solo 2 DL — €750 excl. VAT. The same lap timer, with the added ability to connect to the bike's ECU (via CAN, RS232 or K-Line, depending on the protocol) to display and record its data. AiM offers installation kits by brand, but the available data depends on your bike. It also pairs with an AiM SmartyCam camera.

Starlane Stealth-5 — around €370. Starlane does not publish a price; retailers list the Stealth-5 at €373 at Moto Vision and €372 at Racing One Lab, often with a 10% discount. A motorcycle-specific lap timer: GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, splits, lean angle, GPS speed, a library of more than 1,000 circuits, a backlit screen, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi downloads, and power from the bike's 12 V supply or an optional battery. MAAT software is available to download for Windows and Mac, alongside a mobile app.

Starlane Corsaro-II R — around €500. The next model up, also motorcycle-specific, with a touchscreen: €477 at Gentlemen Riders, €519 at Racing One Lab.

A word on the Racelogic VBOX Sport (25 Hz, more than 6 h of battery life): the brand has marked it as end of life and no longer sells it. You will still come across it second-hand.

Who is it for? The rider who gets on track several times a season, wants to read their times without waiting until the pits and, with AiM's DL version, understand what the bike is doing, not just where it is going.

4. A race dashboard: a different budget

A step further up, you are no longer adding a lap timer to the bike: you replace the standard instruments with a race dashboard. It connects to the bike's wiring loom, displays revs, gear and lap times on a colour screen, and records everything. Budget at least €1,200, and check that your model is supported.

Starlane Davinci-II — around €1,400 (S) and €2,000 (R). A 5-inch colour screen and dedicated wiring looms for the most common sports bikes; the R version also records ECU data and four high-speed channels (suspension, brake pressure…). Retailer prices checked: €1,366 for the S and €2,196 for the R at WRS (bike wiring loom included), €1,456 for the S+ and €1,940 for the R at Starlane-Shop.de. The latter states that exhaust valves and electronic suspension are not supported, and that road use in Germany requires individual approval: think of it primarily as track equipment.

AiM MXPS and MXK10 — €1,220 excl. VAT. Plug-and-play dashboards, each for a specific bike: the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 from 2017 to 2025 for the MXPS, which uses the original connector and mounting points and comes with GPS; the Kawasaki ZX-10R from 2011 to 2020 for the MXK10, whose dedicated GPS is an extra (€380 excl. VAT).

2D, which supplies MotoGP teams, also offers a display, the ColorDash 3.5″, aimed at professional racing and with no public price. Retailers do, however, sell its GPS receiver, which displays lap times in the BMW S1000RR's standard instruments (€615 at alpha Racing).

Who is it for? The rider whose bike is now track-only, who wants a single screen for everything and engine data from every session.

What you may already have

Before buying, look at what is sitting in your kit bag:

• A GoPro. The HERO 5 to 11 and HERO 13 record GPS in the video; the HERO 12 does not. It is not a lap timer, but the trace is there.
• A Yamaha R1 or R1M from 2015 to 2020 fitted with its CCU unit. The free Y-TRAC Data Logger app retrieves 15 types of bike data and 6 types of electronic rider-aid data. Do not confuse it with Y-TRAC Rev, a different Yamaha app that is free but limited to 10 recordings without the €6.99 monthly plan.
• A Dainese D-air Racing suit with a USB connection: according to the Dainese manual, it stores up to 8 hours of GPS trace.

How to choose: five questions to ask yourself

What is your budget? Under €30: an app. From €140 to €320: a RaceBox unit. From €370 to €750: a lap timer with a screen. From €1,200: a race dashboard.

Do you want to read your times while riding? If so, you need a screen: 3DMS, AiM, Starlane or a race dashboard. Otherwise, an app or a RaceBox is enough, and you can read everything in the pits.

Do you want the bike's data? Only certain devices read it, and never on every bike: an AiM Solo 2 DL, a race dashboard (Davinci-II R, AiM MXPS or MXK10), an OBD reader with RaceChrono or TrackAddict, or the original Y-TRAC on an R1. Check compatibility with your model before buying.

Can you export your files? This is the criterion people forget, and the one that matters most after three seasons. A device that exports CSV, VBO or GPX lets you change software or hardware without losing your history.

Is the software free? Race Studio 3 (AiM) and 3DMS Tools Suite are. For apps, compare what is included and what requires an in-app purchase or subscription.

What happens after the day?

The lap timer has recorded everything; now you need to review it. Tarmago reads files from most of these devices: drop in the session file, and it recognises the circuit, splits out the laps and sectors and places the trace on the circuit map. Starlane, Y-TRAC, 3DMS, RaceChrono (CSV), RaceBox and GPX have been verified using real motorcycle sessions; AiM, Alfano, VBOX, Harry's, TrackAddict, MoTeC and GoPro are read in beta.

The device-by-device export guide explains where to find the right file, and the introduction to Tarmago telemetry shows what you can get from it. To give your lap timer something to record, the track day calendar lists upcoming dates. If this is your first time, the motorcycle track day guide explains how the day runs, and the article on average speed on a track day (in French) will help put your first lap times in context.

FAQ

Is a phone enough to time a track day?

Yes, when you are starting out. RaceChrono, Harry's LapTimer and TrackAddict provide laps and splits using the phone's GPS. They also accept an external GPS receiver, such as a RaceBox at 25 Hz.

What difference does 10 Hz or 25 Hz make?

At 200 km/h, one point every 5.6 m at 10 Hz versus 2.2 m at 25 Hz. For comparing your laps, 10 Hz is enough; 25 Hz gives more detailed analysis of braking and corners.

Do you need a lap timer that reads the bike's data?

No. To improve your lap times and lines, position and speed are enough. Engine data (revs, throttle, brakes) requires a device compatible with your bike, such as the AiM Solo 2 DL or an OBD reader with the right cable.

Should you replace the standard instruments with a race dashboard?

Only if the bike is now track-only and you want the engine data on a single screen. Budget from €1,200 to more than €2,000, and check that a wiring loom exists for your model. For lap times, a lap timer with a screen or a GPS unit is enough.

Can I keep my history if I change devices?

Yes, if your device exports open file formats such as CSV, VBO or GPX. Check before buying: this is what saves you from starting again from scratch.

Is my lap timer compatible with Tarmago?

Tarmago reads Starlane, Y-TRAC, 3DMS, RaceChrono, RaceBox and GPX, plus AiM, Alfano, VBOX, Harry's LapTimer, TrackAddict, MoTeC and GoPro in beta. The export guide gives the file to upload for each device.

Sources

Prices and specifications checked on 14 October 2026, excluding promotions:

• RaceBox Micro, RaceBox Mini, RaceBox Mini S — official RaceBox shop
• AiM Solo 2 and AiM Solo 2 DL — official AiM shop
• 3DMS Evo — manufacturer; price at Gentlemen Riders
• Starlane Stealth-5 — manufacturer; prices at Moto Vision and Racing One Lab
• Starlane Corsaro-II R: prices at Gentlemen Riders and Racing One Lab
• Starlane Davinci-II: prices at WRS, S version, WRS, R version, Starlane-Shop.de, S+ version and R version
• AiM MXPS — manufacturer; MXPS and MXK10 prices in the official AiM shop
• 2D Datarecording — manufacturer; GPS receiver for standard instruments at alpha Racing
• 3DMS FAQ and RaceChrono support — manufacturers
• TrackAddict — developer; Harry's LapTimer — developer
• VBOX Sport — Racelogic
• RaceChrono Pro, Harry's LapTimer Rookie, TrackAddict, Y-TRAC Data Logger, Y-TRAC Rev — French App Store
• RaceBox FAQ (export); AiM Solo 2 and Solo 2 DL — manufacturers